You Need These Puma X Stampd R968 Desert Storm Sneaker Right Now

When we first heard Puma and Stampd were collaborating on a sneaker, we knew instantly it was going to be special...and we were right.

Stampd LA, the new age streetwear brand, us having a great year solidifying themselves as a streetwear staple and becoming a household name in the world of menswear. The streetwear brand which is most known for it’s monochromatic looks and avant garde take on athletic apparel, is having a great start to 2015. The brand now offers a wide variety of cut and sew items to go along with their mainstays such as their bomber jackets and snap back. When images and announcements were first made on social media that Puma and Stampd would be collaborating on a sneaker, I instantly knew it would be something special.

I have always been a fan of the Stampd aesthetic appeal and Puma has had a solid track record with collaborating with some of the most authentic streetwear brands (Aime Leon Dore, Brooklyn We Go Hard). I was fortunate enough to be gifted a pair of the highly anticipated R968’s ahead of the global release date, so I could shoot them and provide a few thoughts on these sneakers. Here are some of my impressions of the collaborative sneaker.

The first thing you notice after wearing the Desert Storm is the premium feel of the sneaker; it feels like a high end sneaker that is well above the 140.00 USD price tag. Stampd really made this version of the R968 their own by simplifying the lines of upper and incorporating different materials such as suede, leather,and 3M layers.

Other than the premium feel of the Desert Storm, you really get a sense of the Stampd personality and aesthetic through the colourway of the sneaker. This collaboration was just not just a Stampd logo on the side of the shoe; it has all the looks and hallmarks of a Stampd product with the monochromatic mix of cream, white and grey, but with the comfort of a Puma sneaker.

Putting the sneakers in my rotation for the past few weeks, the cream colourway really stood out from the rest of the summer inspired sneakers that I’ve been use to wearing. Simply put, if you are a fan of Stampd, you need these pair of sneakers. The collaborative effort by Puma & Stampd really define what a meaningful collaboration should be in 2015, where two brands come together and put their best foot foward to make a really solid product.